Rome--A brace from former Lazio star Hernanes saw Inter Milan beat his old side 2-1 in an incident-packed Serie A clash Sunday which saw the hosts have two players sent off and Inter miss a penalty.
Brazilian Hernanes spent three-and-a-half at Lazio and claimed that he cried when he was sold to Inter last January.
But he enraged the home fans in Rome when he celebrated his 26th-minute strike with a somersault only seconds after defender Mauricio had been sent off for pulling back Rodrigo Palacio when he was through on goal.
Antonio Candreva had given Lazio a deserved eighth-minute lead with classy strike, but once Mauricio was sent off it was backs to the wall for the home side and their livid fans.
To rub salt into the wound Hernanes raced on to Palacio's delightful flick and slotted home the winner seven minutes before the end to move Inter up to 52 points, only three away from the Europa League places.
Stefano Pioli's side stay third on 63 points, one behind local rivals Roma after a game that saw them down to 10 men after only 25 minutes.
They were then down to nine on the hour when goalkeeper Federico Marchetti brought down Mauro Icardi just as he was about to put Inter into the lead.
Icardi's weak penalty was easily saved by substitute keeper Etrit Berisha, sparking hopes of a point, but Hernanes crushed them with his smooth finish.
The defeat is a huge let off for Roma, who fell limply 2-0 at AC Milan on Saturday, and fourth-placed Napoli, who are three points behind Lazio despite only drawing 2-2 at bankrupt and relegated Parma.
There was also controversy there, after a Parma display that was apparently too spirited for some within the Napoli set-up.
Raffaele Palladino's ninth minute strike gave Parma a shock lead after Napoli keeper Mariano Andujar flapped at a corner.
And Cristobal Jorquera's first Serie A goal in over three years, a long-range rocket of a shot from a free-kick, restored that lead only five minutes after Manolo Gabbiadini's 28th-minute equaliser.
Dries Mertens levelled the scores for the away side in the 72nd minute with a well-placed low shot, but it wasn't enough for Napoli, and Gonzalo Higuain reacted badly at the end of the game, having to be pulled away from Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante as he shouted "you're already down, what do you want?
AFP
